Press Digest - GE14 by the end of the year?

PETALING JAYA: General election by the end of the year?
Prime Minister and Barisan Nasional (BN) chief Datuk Seri Najib Abdul Razak led coalition top brass in a three-day retreat in Pahang early this week to psych them up for the 14th general election (GE14), Sin Chew Daily reported yesterday.
It is learnt Najib has hinted at the retreat GE14 might be held in October.
BN is said to be confident of recapturing Selangor but is less optimistic of its chances in Penang.
It has been BN's practice to hold such retreats months before a general election. Such activities have become the barometer for pundits to predict election dates.
According to the report, BN state chiefs briefed Najib on the scenario in their respective states; voter sentiments; coalition's strengths and weaknesses; and winnable seats at the hush-hush retreat.
A source told the daily that Najib was confident BN would win 33 more seats to give the coalition a two-thirds majority.
In GE13, BN won 133 of the total 222 parliamentary seats.
In the coming general election, BN must win at least 148 seats to secure a two-thirds majority.
The source said BN also discussed polls strategies and identified states that it is capable of wresting back from the Opposition.
"BN is not optimistic of retaking Penang but is confident of capturing Selangor mainly because Umno stands to gain from the split in the Opposition. However, the issue of possible Umno-PAS cooperation was not raised at the retreat.
"Kelantan BN leaders were upbeat on their chances of capturing more state seats or even the state.
"BN is also confident of retaining Kedah and Terengganu. (Retaining) Other states is a certainty," said the source.
"The coalition leaders identified winnable seats but did not discuss seat allocations and candidates," the source said, adding that one of the aims of the retreat was to strengthen the esprit de corps and cooperation among component parties so that BN would go to the polls as a solid team.
The source said Najib did not give the polls date but hinted it could be as early as October.
"Many have predicted that it would be held in September. But it is quite unlikely given that Sept 16 is Malaysia day, and China President Xi Jinping is likely to visit Malaysia in August or September."
The 13th Parliament will automatically dissolve on June 24, 2018 and GE 14 must be called within 60 days from the dissolution of the Parliament.